The truck
in these pictures might look like a Toyota Hilux Double Cab but its
German registration numbers indicate that it's registered in Brunswig,
Germany. Brunswig is located near Volkswagen's headquarters in Wolfsburg.
It's where most VW test vehicles are licensed.

There are
two speculative tales about the truck in these pictures.

The first
version is from spy photographer Robert Sandseth, who nabbed these
shots. Sandseth
says Volkswagen is preparing to badge engineer the Hilux and will sell
it as the new Volkswagen Taro.

It wouldn't
be the first time VW has sold rebadged Hiluxes. Toyota and VW had an
agreement in the 1980s and 1990s, where VW built Hilux-based Taro pickups
in its Hanover, Germany factory. The trucks were produced from 1989
to 1994.

WorldCarFans
says the truck in these pictures is actually an all new Volkswagen
pickup disguised as a Toyota Hilux. WCF expects the new truck will
be launched by the end of 2009. It will initially be sold in Europe
and South America with diesel and gas powertrains.

WCF also
says that VW is considering exporting the new Taro to the United States
- which could better explain VW product planner interest in domestic
trucks, like the F-150, last month in Detroit. VW would have to have
a good business case for importing a new truck, though. Pickups built
overseas are subject to a 25% tariff (i.e. chicken tax).

If an American-bound
VW import pickup becomes a reality, maybe this summer we'll see
the truck doing some hot weather testing in Death Valley.